Originally Posted by Bwana:
Once again, don't come in this thread with some kind of political agenda, or you will be shown the door. If you want to go that route, there is a thread about this in DC.
Originally Posted by Dartgod:
People, there is a lot of good information in this thread, let's try to keep the petty bickering to a minimum.
We all have varying opinions about the impact of this, the numbers, etc. We will all never agree with each other. But we can all keep it civil.
Thanks!
Click here for the original OP:
Spoiler!
Apparently the CoronaVirus can survive on a inanimate objects, such as door knobs, for 9 days.
California coronavirus case could be first spread within U.S. community, CDC says
By SOUMYA KARLAMANGLA, JACLYN COSGROVE
FEB. 26, 2020 8:04 PM
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating what could be the first case of novel coronavirus in the United States involving a patient in California who neither recently traveled out of the country nor was in contact with someone who did.
“At this time, the patient’s exposure is unknown. It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19, which would be the first time this has happened in the United States,” the CDC said in a statement. “Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected.”
The individual is a resident of Solano County and is receiving medical care in Sacramento County, according to the state Department of Public Health.
The CDC said the “case was detected through the U.S. public health system — picked up by astute clinicians.”
Officials at UC Davis Medical Center expanded on what the federal agency might have meant by that in an email sent Wednesday, as reported by the Davis Enterprise newspaper.
The patient arrived at UC Davis Medical Center from another hospital Feb. 19 and “had already been intubated, was on a ventilator, and given droplet protection orders because of an undiagnosed and suspected viral condition,” according to an email sent by UC Davis officials that was obtained by the Davis Enterprise.
The staff at UC Davis requested COVID-19 testing by the CDC, but because the patient didn’t fit the CDC’s existing criteria for the virus, a test wasn’t immediately administered, according to the email. The CDC then ordered the test Sunday, and results were announced Wednesday. Hospital administrators reportedly said in the email that despite these issues, there has been minimal exposure at the hospital because of safety protocols they have in place.
A UC Davis Health spokesperson declined Wednesday evening to share the email with The Times.
Since Feb. 2, more than 8,400 returning travelers from China have entered California, according to the state health department. They have been advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and limit interactions with others as much as possible, officials said.
“This is a new virus, and while we are still learning about it, there is a lot we already know,” Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “We have been anticipating the potential for such a case in the U.S., and given our close familial, social and business relationships with China, it is not unexpected that the first case in the U.S. would be in California.”
It is not clear how the person became infected, but public health workers could not identify any contacts with people who had traveled to China or other areas where the virus is widespread. That raises concern that the virus is spreading in the United States, creating a challenge for public health officials, experts say.
“It’s the first signal that we could be having silent transmission in the community,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. “It probably means there are many more cases out there, and it probably means this individual has infected others, and now it’s a race to try to find out who that person has infected.”
On Tuesday, the CDC offered its most serious warning to date that the United States should expect and prepare for the coronavirus to become a more widespread health issue.
“Ultimately, we expect we will see coronavirus spread in this country,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “It’s not so much a question of if, but a question of when.”
According to the CDC’s latest count Wednesday morning, 59 U.S. residents have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus — 42 of whom are repatriated citizens from a Diamond Princess cruise. That number has grown by two since Messonnier’s last count Tuesday, although the CDC was not immediately available to offer details on the additional cases.
More than 82,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported globally, and more than 2,700 people have died, with the majority in mainland China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
But public health leaders have repeatedly reminded residents that the health risk from the novel coronavirus to the general public remains low.
“While COVID-19 has a high transmission rate, it has a low mortality rate,” the state Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday. “From the international data we have, of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, approximately 80% do not exhibit symptoms that would require hospitalization. There have been no confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 in the United States to date.”
CDC officials have also warned that although the virus is likely to spread in U.S. communities, the flu still poses a greater risk.
Gostin said the news of potential silent transmission does not eliminate the possibility of containing the virus in the U.S. and preventing an outbreak.
“There are few enough cases that we should at least try,” he said. “Most of us are not optimistic that that will be successful, but we’re still in the position to try.”
I've read a number of studies that suggest initial dose matters wrt to severity of covid infection. Which wouldn't be surprising as studies have shown that initial dose matters with the flu and SARS-I.
Assuming this is the case - people who catch covid from their housemates would seem to be much more at risk of a severe infection - given they're getting a maskless blast from their housemate for days.
Has anyone seen any studies to this effect? I can't find any. But I can't imagine how it's not the case - assuming initial dose matters.
Anecdotally everyone I know who's gotten it from their roommate or family member in the house, got a worse infection than the original infectee who got it from outside the house somewhere. But that's a sample size of like 5. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TLO:
Saw a couple of news reports where the CDC is now estimating we're finding about 1 in 8 infections at this point.
If that's the case in North Dakota, it would put them at 611,536 total infected out of 762,062 total population. So I really doubt it's that high for them.
Still, ND may become the first state to hit herd immunity. Just as a vaccine is around the corner. [Reply]
Originally Posted by suzzer99:
If that's the case in North Dakota, it would put them at 611,536 total infected out of 762,062 total population. So I really doubt it's that high for them.
Still, ND may become the first state to hit herd immunity. Just as a vaccine is around the corner.
Yeah, I doubt it applies to every location. It's still pretty wild we're missing so many cases with the amount of testing we're doing. [Reply]
Originally Posted by suzzer99:
I've read a number of studies that suggest initial dose matters wrt to severity of covid infection. Which wouldn't be surprising as studies have shown that initial dose matters with the flu and SARS-I.
Assuming this is the case - people who catch covid from their housemates would seem to be much more at risk of a severe infection - given they're getting a maskless blast from their housemate for days.
Has anyone seen any studies to this effect? I can't find any. But I can't imagine how it's not the case - assuming initial dose matters.
Anecdotally everyone I know who's gotten it from their roommate or family member in the house, got a worse infection than the original infectee who got it from outside the house somewhere. But that's a sample size of like 5.
I've seen/heard hypotheses regarding this, but have not seen any studies.
Originally Posted by TLO:
Yeah, I doubt it applies to every location. It's still pretty wild we're missing so many cases with the amount of testing we're doing.
Why? Most cases you'd have no clue you have the shit. The amount of "cases" is 10 times the reported amount....easily [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball:
Why? Most cases you'd have no clue you have the shit. The amount of "cases" is 10 times the reported amount....easily
You might be right. I'm not sure we'll every truly know the number of people infected. [Reply]
My older brother texted me this morning and he and his wife tested positive. She is a nurse in KC so brought it home with her probably. So far they both have flu symptoms but other wise doing decent. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball:
Why? Most cases you'd have no clue you have the shit. The amount of "cases" is 10 times the reported amount....easily
10x known cases in North Dakota is more than the population of the state. [Reply]
Concordia University in Irvine will discontinue its use of antigen testing for asymptomatic students and employees, after more than 50 false positives prompted unwarranted concern about a possible major coronavirus outbreak.
As of Wednesday, university officials said there were six active cases — four students and two employees — on campus as opposed to the more than 60 infections reported two days ago. Testing in another six cases has not been confirmed, and 55 students and employees have been confirmed as negative for the virus, they said. [Reply]